Chapter 58: Shao Le, Who Hasn't Learned It Properly

In the large office, Shao Le had already applied medicine and was grimacing as he explained the situation to everyone.

After Lu Qiaoge established the service station, Shao Le went to the security station to assist Officer Liu. Meanwhile, Lu Qiaoge continued her role as a mediator; while running the service station, she didn't neglect resolving minor disputes.

This time, Li Ying, the wife of Master Liu from Workshop Four, hadn't come to the mediator. Instead, she went directly to the security station to find Officer Liu, claiming that Liu Yu wanted to kill her. She was terrified and hoped the security station could send Liu Yu to the farm for labor reform.

Consequently, Shao Le and Officer Liu went to the Liu residence. Before going, they had looked into Master Liu's family situation.

Liu Yu was the youngest son of Master Liu and his first wife. He was fourteen years old this year and working as an apprentice in a shoe repair shop. Li Ying was Master Liu's second wife; Liu Yu's biological mother had passed away when he was three.

When Shao Le arrived at the Liu house, he found that the boy was skin and bones and very silent, merely staring at Li Ying with eyes full of hatred.

Recounting this, Shao Le looked at Lu Qiaoge and said with some frustration, "At the time, I thought it was similar to the situation with Zhou Li's family. It was obvious that Li Ying was lying. That child was so thin and short; you could tell just by looking that he was the type who went hungry and was beaten and scolded at home. So, I told Li Ying that making accusations without evidence is just spreading rumors. I said, 'Even if Liu Yu isn't your biological son, he is still a member of the Liu family, and you can't use excuses to drive him out.' I didn't expect Li Ying to lunge at me and hit me. I wasn't prepared, so she scratched me twice. That old... that old woman is far too shrewish."

Lu Qiaoge felt that Shao Le probably wanted to call her an "old shrew," but he didn't dare because Director Hu was there.

However, Shao Le suddenly became hesitant.

Sister Qiao asked, "What are you hesitating about? Is there something you can't say?"

Shao Le immediately replied, "Just before I left, that Liu Yu actually said: 'Li Ying is right, I do want to kill her!'"

After a pause, Shao Le frowned. "When Master Liu heard this, he grabbed Liu Yu and slapped him hard. Officer Liu and I struggled to hold him back. We wanted to ask what was actually going on, but Master Liu said the child was just being unruly and that he would discipline him himself, then he kicked Officer Liu and me out."

Lu Qiaoge thought for a moment and asked, "How did Liu Yu's biological mother die?"

Director Hu gave Lu Qiaoge a surprised look. He realized that this girl's focus on certain matters was different from most people.

"I don't know. The street office only records basic family information."

And because it was an unexpected incident, no one had gone to investigate.

At that moment, Officer Liu walked into the large office and gave Shao Le a disgruntled look. This idiot—even though Master Liu's family situation was similar to Master Zhou's, every family has its own issues. You can't use the same method to handle things without asking clearly.

In truth, he also felt that Liu Yu was being abused.

He had seen the bruises on the boy's arms; besides, the contrast was too obvious.

Li Ying's first husband had died. She originally lived next door to Master Liu and was said to have been quite close to Liu Yu's biological mother.

After the mother died, she married into the Liu family with her two sons, and both sons took the surname Liu.

The eldest was sixteen and was an apprentice in Workshop Four under Master Liu. The second was the same age as Liu Yu but was attending middle school.

Li Ying's two sons were tall and sturdy.

Furthermore, Li Ying and Master Liu had a daughter together, who was likely very pampered.

Even a fool could see the child's situation at home. However, Liu Yu's biological father was still alive; if he didn't speak up, others had no way to intervene.

Shao Le grimaced. "Then... do we still intervene in this matter?"

Officer Liu said irritably, "How can we not? What if what Liu Yu said is true?"

Sister Qiao frowned. "I heard Master Liu is very harsh when he hits his children."

Ren Xiaocui sighed, "As they say, once there's a stepmother, there's a step-father."

Director Hu immediately interjected, "We can't generalize. There are over fifty thousand people in our Xiangyang Street Office jurisdiction, and many are reconstituted families. Whether it's a stepmother or a stepfather, aren't there many who treat children well and live in harmony like a real family?"

Ren Xiaocui chuckled. "I'm just venting in the office; I wouldn't say that outside."

Director Hu checked the time and felt some hesitation. It was almost time to get off work, but Shao Le's report...

"When you left, did Master Liu hit the child?"

Officer Liu said, "I warned Master Liu not to lay a hand on the child."

In the end, Director Hu still couldn't rest easy, and since he was passing by Master Liu's residence on his way home, he decided to check.

He took Shao Le and Officer Liu with him to see the situation. Lu Qiaoge was supposed to work with the volunteers in the afternoon, so she hurried off to the night school.

Fortunately, it wasn't far, and since Lu Qiaoge walked fast, she arrived in no time.

Once again, Lu Qiaoge wished she had a bicycle.

But the problem was that not only did her family lack a bicycle permit, they also had no money.

A Flying Pigeon bicycle cost 180 yuan at the department store.

She had less than fifty cents in her pocket.

Luckily, she could still go out without money in her pocket, otherwise, she'd be stuck.

Lost in thought, Lu Qiaoge arrived at the night school. After arranging the work, she told everyone they could come a bit later in the afternoon, as the weather was getting hot and she didn't want anyone to get heatstroke.

These people were those who didn't want to return to the countryside but couldn't find work immediately, though their families didn't want them to leave either.

But this wasn't a long-term solution.

They desperately craved a place that could employ them, even if it meant working for free.

So, the honest Meng Qingshan said, "Xiao Lu, Zhou Li knows how to use herbs to make heat-relieving tea. Let's work harder this afternoon to get all the mud bricks made."

Lu Qiaoge didn't try to dissuade them. She would be coming in the afternoon as well. After a thought, she asked Meng Qingshan, "How much yellow clay do we still need?"

Meng Qingshan pointed to a pile of earth. "We've hauled it all back; it should be enough."

Beside them, Du Shuang pressed a hand to her chest and said, "Every time I go to the yellow clay pond, I feel a bit creeped out."

Lu Qiaoling asked quickly, "Why?"

Du Shuang's expression changed. "I heard it from my mom. Master Liu's wife from Workshop Four drowned in the yellow clay pond. But that was over ten years ago. After the accident, the pond was filled in."

Lu Qiaoge glanced toward the direction of the pond, suppressing a strange feeling in her heart.

She told everyone to lock their tools in the classroom and then go home to eat and rest.

Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling also returned home. Little Si was waiting at the gate. Seeing Lu Qiaoge, he pointed to a swallow's nest and then to his own mouth.

He meant that a naughty swallow had brought back a piece of white water bamboo and he had eaten it.

Perhaps it was psychological, but Lu Qiaoge felt that Little Si's condition had improved significantly.

Looking at him like this, he might even be able to go to school by September.

As Lu Qiaoge entered the courtyard, she found that Old Lu was also home, looking jubilant.

Seeing her two daughters return, Meng Xia said happily, "Guess which unit I went to work for?"

Lu Qiaoling jumped over in surprise. "Mom, don't keep us in suspense! Where did you go? Tell us, tell us!"

Lu Qiaoge scooped up a handful of cool water and splashed it on her face. Ah, so refreshing! She also smiled brightly. "Mom went to work as a school staff member at the factory's primary school."